What Do You Know About Addiction?

Addiction is a long-term (chronic) brain disease that is also called substance abuse disorder. It can be caused by using too much of a drug or alcohol. Over time, addiction changes the structure and function of the brain. Find out more about addiction by taking this quiz.

1. Addiction can begin when a person uses drugs, but addiction is more than just using a lot of drugs.

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When someone abuses a drug, changes occur in the brain. Some abused drugs bring on a feeling of pleasure. Other drugs will cause a person to feel or do things better, as well as feel less stressed. No one thing makes a person become addicted to drugs. Genes, environment, and life stages can be key factors in whether a person will become addicted to drugs.

A. True
B. False

2. Addiction most often gets worse over time.

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Addiction can range from mild to severe. But many people still view drug abuse and addiction as a social problem, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) says. People who are addicted to drugs are not morally weak and simply unwilling to change their behavior.

A. True
B. False

3. One symptoms of addiction is needing to use more of the drug over time.

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Someone who is addicted needs to use more of the drug because his or her body develops a tolerance for it. The person also has withdrawal symptoms when he or she tries to stop using the drug. Other symptoms are:

The person cannot cut back on the amount of the drug used

The person wants to use the drug

The person cannot stop using the drug

The person spends a lot of time looking for, using, or recovering from using the drug

The person keeps using the drug even when it causes personal problems, work problems, or both

Health care providers use screening tools to help treat addiction in patients. These tools are special questions made to look at alcohol and drug abuse.

A. True
B. False

4. People often become addicted only a day or two after first using a drug.

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How quickly a person can become addicted to a drug depends on that person's sensitivity to the drug. It usually takes longer than a few days. Some drugs are more addictive than others.

A. True
B. False

5. Addiction can cause a lack of control over thoughts, feelings, ideas, or behaviors.

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This is how addiction is defined.

A. True
B. False

6. People are addicted when they keep using a drug even when it causes problems in their life.

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Besides causing problems such as loss of a job or relationship, drug addiction can cause wide-ranging health problems. These are among the health problems related to drug abuse and addiction: heart disease, stroke, cancer, AIDS, hepatitis, and lung disease, according to the NIDA. Brain changes that happen with addiction can affect memory, attention, and decision-making.

A. True
B. False

7. Addiction can be overcome with treatment.

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Most people addicted to drugs need treatment to overcome their addiction. The goal of treatment is to stop using the drug. But the first step is to cut back on how much is used. The first goals are to help the person get back to normal life and to reverse or stop any health problems caused by drug use. It is important to remember that addiction can be managed successfully.

A. True
B. False

8. An addict in recovery should recognize that owning up to the addiction doesn’t mean he or she is a bad person.

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Being addicted means that the person has used a drug so often that he or she cannot now control how much of it is used.

A. True
B. False

9. An important step toward recovery is accepting that change must occur.

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If a person doesn’t start change, it’s highly unlikely recovery will occur. The process has several steps. The first step is when the person is not interested in changing behavior. Through education and help, the person can move to the second stage. He or she now thinks about changing in the next 6 months. From there the person can move to getting ready to make the change, taking action, and staying drug-free.